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Israel travel guide

Regions & Cities

Israel is a land heavy with history, as the cradle of Judaism,
Christianity and Islam alike. This cultural complexity is reflected
in the diversity of its natural landscape, which varies from the
salty serenity of the Dead Sea, to verdant national parks and
parched desert plateaus.

Most visits to the Holy Land begin with a trip to the capital
city of Jerusalem. The streets bustle with activity and busy
markets line the cobbled streets against a skyline of sacred sites.
The modern commercial centre of Tel Aviv is dedicated to the more
hedonistic pursuits of life, that come in the form of sun-drenched
beaches, good restaurants, designer clothing stores and
sophisticated night clubs. Sunbathing and scuba diving are the main
draw of the Red Sea port of Elat, while relaxation and spa resorts
are a specialty of the Dead Sea experience. The Galilee area, north
of Jerusalem, is the destination of pilgrims and nature-lovers
alike. The region's concentration of holy sites is fascinating,
particularly around the azure stretches of the Sea of Galilee. The
cosmopolitan reaches of the Jewish-Arab city of Haifa provide a
glorious base from which to explore the Galilee area, as well as
the magnificent sea grottoes of Rosh Hanikra.

Israel is home to more than 200 museums - the highest number of
museums per capita in the world - further underlining its status as
one of the most culturally-rich destinations on the planet. Its
national parks are roundly celebrated for their accessibility and
beauty. Of course, the chief attractions of Israel are religious,
with sites of profound spiritual importance drawing pilgrims from
three religions.

Israel's currency is the Israeli Shekel (ILS), which is divided
into 100 agorot (singular is agora). Money can be changed in the
small exchange bureaux found on most main streets, or at banks and
hotels. ATMs are prevalent throughout the country. Most banks are
open Sunday through to Friday until noon, and are open again from
4pm till 6pm on Sundays, Tuesdays and Thursdays. Major credit cards
are widely accepted.

Language : Hebrew and Arabic are the official languages of Israel.
Most of the population also speak English.

US citizens must have a passport that is valid for at least six
months beyond the period of intended stay in Israel. No visa is
required for stays of up to three months.

British citizens must have a passport that is valid for at least
six months beyond the period of intended stay in Israel. No visa is
required for stays of up to three months for British passport
holders, irrespective of the endorsement regarding their national
status contained therein.

Canadian citizens must have a passport that is valid for at
least six months beyond the period of intended stay in Israel. No
visa is required for stays of up to three months.

Australian citizens must have a passport that is valid for at
least six months beyond the period of intended stay in Israel. No
visa is required for stays of up to three months.

South African citizens must have a passport that is valid for at
least six months beyond the period of intended stay in Israel. No
visa is required, for stays of up to three months.

Irish citizens must have a passport that is valid for at least
six months beyond the period of intended stay in Israel. No visa is
required for stays of up to three months.

New Zealand citizens must have a passport that is valid for at
least six months beyond the period of intended stay in Israel. No
visa is required for stays of up to three months.

Passport/Visa Note :

All foreign passengers to Israel must hold proof of sufficient
funds to cover their stay in the country. Additionally, visitors
should hold return/onward tickets, and the necessary travel
documentation for their next destination. Holders of a visa
category "Aliyah" are allowed to enter Israel on a one-way
ticket.

Passengers intending to proceed from Israel to Arab countries
other than Egypt, Jordan or the United Arab Emirates should ensure
that their passport does not contain an Israeli visa or stamps,
since no passenger is allowed to enter other Arab countries with
such passports. Passengers who, after a three months' stay in
Israel are permitted to stay for a longer period, will obtain the
extension stamp in their passport - it is NOT possible to have it
stamped on a separate sheet.

Note that travellers may enter Jordan directly from occupied
territory, but must hold a visa for Jordan (to be obtained from a
representation of Jordan abroad), otherwise entry will be refused.
The Jordanian authorities will NOT permit re-cross to occupied
territory. Travellers may also enter occupied territory directly
from Jordan. The Israeli authorities will permit a re-cross to
Jordanian territory.

NOTE: It is highly recommended that your passport has at least
six months validity remaining after your intended date of departure
from your travel destination. Immigration officials often apply
different rules to those stated by travel agents and official
sources.

Travel Health :

There are no special health precautions required for travel to
Israel, but insect protection from August to November is
recommended due to the prevalence of the West Nile virus, which is
transmitted by mosquitoes. A hepatitis A vaccine is sometimes
recommended by doctors, as is a tetanus vaccine and an MMR
(measles, mumps, rubella) vaccination for those who haven't already
had it.

Medical facilities in Israel are excellent but treatment can be
very expensive, so it is essential that travellers take out full
travel health insurance. It should be possible to get all necessary
medications in the cities but it is always advised that travellers
who need certain medications take them along on their travels,
along with the prescription and a letter from their doctor.

Tipping :

Tipping is expected in Israel, according to the level of service
(unless a service charge is added to the bill). About 10-15 percent
is customary.

Safety Information :

Check with local embassies for the latest travel advisory
notices.

Travellers in Israel should maintain a high level of vigilance
and keep up to date with developments. The risk of terrorist
attacks remains high and travellers to the region, including
Jerusalem, need to exercise caution particularly around locations
specifically targeted by attacks in the past such as bars,
nightclubs, markets and buses. Suicide bombers and other militants
have targeted crowded public areas resulting in hundreds of deaths
and injuries over the years. Although foreigners have not been
specific targets, many have been caught up in the attacks because
they visit famous landmarks and religious sites.

All travel to the Gaza Strip and the West Bank should be
avoided. There is a continuing threat of kidnap of foreign
nationals in the Gaza Strip and West Bank. The frequent outbreaks
of violence in these areas makes them extremely dangerous even if
tourists are not directly targeted.

Street crime is rare in Israel though, and generally only a
problem in 'bad' areas. The mugging of foreigners is unusual but
pick pocketing is not unheard of in busy market areas so visitors
should take normal precautions against this kind of crime.

Local Customs :

Israel is a largely religious society and religious customs
should be respected. Indecent behaviour is not tolerated and
offenders will be arrested and fined heavily or imprisoned. Care
should be taken not to photograph any military or police personnel
or installations, and visitors should be discreet about taking
photographs in Jewish Orthodox areas and of Jewish Orthodox people.
It is advisable to carry official identification at all times, and
to dress modestly.

Business :

The majority of business in Israel is centred on Tel Aviv. Dress
tends to be less formal than in the US and Europe, but business
people tend to dress in suits for important meetings or
presentations so formal attire is recommended. Women should dress
more conservatively, especially in strictly religious areas.

Business cards are usually exchanged, though with little
formality involved. Meetings often do not begin promptly and much
time can be given to socialising. Business hours are usually from
8:30am to 5pm, from Sunday to Thursday, and on Friday mornings.
Sundays are regarded as a normal business day.

Communications :

The international access code for Israel is +972. The outgoing
code is 00 (not from public phones) followed by the relevant
country code (e.g. 0044 for the United Kingdom). There are other
outgoing codes depending on which network is used to dial out on.
City/area codes are in use, e.g. (0)2 for Jerusalem.

Public phones are card operated and are readily available, and
instruction cards state whether to dial 012, 013 or 014 for
overseas. The local mobile phone operators use GSM networks and
have roaming agreements with most international operators;
otherwise mobile phones can easily be rented. Internet cafes are
available in the main towns and tourist areas all over Israel.

Duty Free :

Travellers to Israel do not have to pay duty on 250 cigarettes
or 250g of other tobacco products; 2 litres wine and 1 litre of
other types of alcoholic beverages; 250ml of eau de cologne or
perfume; 3 kg (6.6 lbs.) of food; and gifts to the value of US$150
for residents and US$125 for non-residents. Prohibited items
include fresh meat and fresh fruit (especially from Africa).

Location: The airport is situated 12 miles (20km) southeast of Tel
Aviv, and 30 miles (50km) northwest of Jerusalem.Time: GMT +2 (GMT +3 from the end of March to the end of
October)Contacts: Tel: +972 (0)3 975 5555.Transfer between terminals: A free shuttle service operates between the two terminals at
15-minute intervals.Getting to the city: Trains are the best option for getting into Tel Aviv; they're
clean, fast and cheap. Trains run from Level S of Terminal 3 to Tel
Aviv Savidor Station and a trip into town takes 20 minutes.
Passengers arriving after midnight will have to wait until 3am for
the first train of the day. Buses run from the nearby Airport City
rather than the airport itself. Passengers can take the free Egged
5 Shuttle from the second floor of arrivals to Airport City.Car rental: Avis, Budget, Dollar Thrifty, Eldan, Hertz and Sixt have
facilities at the airport.Airport Taxis: Taxis usually wait outside the arrivals hall. The trip into town
is nine miles (15kms). There is an added fare surcharge at night
and on Jewish holidays and the Sabbath. Facilities: Airport facilities include currency exchange, ATMs,
banks, public telephones and a post office, luggage storage,
business facilities and VIP lounges, information desks, two
synagogues, medical clinics, a police station, a VAT refund desk,
special needs assistance services, a playroom and a mother and
child room. There are also myriad shopping and dining options. Parking: The area directly in front of the terminals is reserved for
pick-up and drop-offs only. Short-term parking is available in the
parking lot in front of Terminal 3. Rates for short-stay parking
start at ILS 18 for the first hour, and go up by ILS 4 every
fifteen minutes thereafter. The maximum daily rate is ILS 90.
Long-term parking is available opposite Terminal 3. A shuttle bus
runs from this parking lot to the terminal at 15-minute intervals.
Long-stay rates are ILS 80 per day. Website:www.iaa.gov.il/Rashat/en-US/Airports/BenGurion

Temperatures and weather conditions in Israel vary widely. The
northern and coastal regions of Israel have a Mediterranean
climate, characterised by long, hot, dry summers and short, cool
and wet winters. The southern and eastern regions are arid. January
is the coldest month, with temperatures ranging from 40°F to 50°F
(4°C to 10°C), and August is the hottest month with temperatures
ranging from 64°F to 100°F (18°C to 38°C).

The rainy season runs from October to early May but most of the
rain falls between December and February. Israel can experience
severe storms and flooding is not unusual in the wet season. The
summer months often experience no rainfall at all. Rainfall
decreases as one moves south in Israel and is not evenly
distributed in the country. Israel's higher elevations, including
Jerusalem, do sometimes get snow in January and February.

Israel is a year-round travel destination because many of its
attractions are not weather dependant, but many travellers prefer
to visit in summer, particularly if visiting the beautiful
coastline. Early March is also a lovely time to visit Israel
because the countryside comes briefly alive with greenery and
flowers after the winter rain.